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Shinshinim Program – שינשינים

WHAT IS A "SHINSHIN"?

A “shinshin” is an 18-year-old Israeli emissary who defers their army service for one year to volunteer in Jewish communities abroad with the goal of connecting people of all ages to Israel and Israeli culture. Shinshin is an abbreviation for "shanat sherut" in Hebrew, or a year of service in English. This is a common program in Israel where high school graduates defer their army service for one year in order to volunteer. The goal of the shinshinim program is to strengthen the local Jewish community and its institutions by directly connecting them, by way of their relationship-building and engagement with the community, to modern Israel and the concept of Jewish peoplehood.

What will they do for our community?

The two Shinshinim will volunteer their time working in various agencies throughout the community, but will focus their efforts at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh (JCC), Community Day School (CDS) and Joint Jewish Education Program (J-JEP) in Pittsburgh.

Having a Shinshin in your home is an experience of a lifetime!

What do you need in order to host Raz and Hadar for five months periods (August 2018 – February 2019; late February 2019 – August 2019)?

Provide a private bedroom for the Shinshin

Provide meals

Host them as part of the family

Families are preferred to also have children at home

Live in Squirrel Hill, Oakland, Point Breeze or Regent Square

Get ready to have a great time!

To learn more about the Shinshinim program, or if you are interested in hosting a Shinshin in your home, contact Shani Turel at sturel@jfedpgh.org or 412-320-1935.